If you are sourcing products from China, “How should I ship this?” is the most expensive question you will answer. Choose the wrong method, and you either overpay by thousands of dollars or miss your inventory deadline by weeks.
This guide cuts through the noise. We compare air freight, sea freight, and express courier services based on real-world logistics logic—not just price, but risk, speed, and reliability.
Quick Answer: Choose Your Shipping Method in 60 Seconds
Use this decision tree to instantly narrow down your best option.
- Is your shipment under 150 kg (approx. 0.5 CBM)?
- Yes: Use Express (Courier).
- Why: It’s cheaper than air freight at this weight because it avoids separate customs and trucking fees.
- Is it 150 kg – 500 kg and urgent?
- Yes: Use Air Freight.
- Why: Cheaper than Express, but fast (5–10 days).
- Is it 1 CBM – 15 CBM and NOT urgent?
- Yes: Use LCL Sea Freight.
- Why: You pay only for the space you use. Transit takes 25–40 days.
- Is it over 15 CBM?
- Yes: Use FCL Sea Freight (20ft Container).
- Why: Even if you don’t fill it, a full container is often cheaper and safer than large LCL shipments.
- Shipping to Amazon FBA?
- Tip: Look for DDP Shipping (Delivered Duty Paid). This can be done via Air or Sea. The forwarder handles all duties and appointments.
The 3 Shipping Modes Explained (No Confusion)
1. Air Freight
What it is: Your cargo flies on a dedicated cargo plane or in the belly of a passenger airliner. It moves from airport to airport (e.g., Shanghai PVG to Los Angeles LAX).
- Best for: High-value electronics, fashion, urgent restocks, or goods weighing 300–800 kg.
- Typical Transit: 5–10 days door-to-door.
- Don’t confuse with: Express. Air freight requires a freight forwarder and formal customs clearance. Express does not.
2. Sea Freight (Ocean Freight)
What it is: Cargo travels on massive container ships. It is the backbone of global trade.
- FCL (Full Container Load): You rent the whole box (20ft or 40ft). Safest and fastest ocean option.
- LCL (Less than Container Load): Your goods are consolidated with other people’s cargo. Slower due to handling at both ports.
- Best for: Bulk inventory, heavy machinery, furniture, and anything > 1 CBM that isn’t urgent.
- Typical Transit: 25–45 days door-to-door.
- Don’t confuse with: Slow boats. Some services (like Matson to the US West Coast) are “fast ocean” and can arrive in ~15 days.
3. Express Courier
What it is: Door-to-door service by companies like DHL, FedEx, or UPS.
- Best for: Samples, documents, and small shipments (< 150 kg).
- Typical Transit: 3–5 days.
- Don’t confuse with: Standard Post. Express is premium and tracked. “China Post” or “ePacket” is cheap but takes weeks.
Main Comparison Table: Air vs Sea vs Express
Bookmark this table. It compares the factors that actually affect your business.
| Feature | Express (DHL/FedEx) | Air Freight | Sea Freight (LCL) | Sea Freight (FCL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed (Door-to-Door) | 3–5 Days (Fastest) | 5–10 Days | 25–50 Days | 20–40 Days |
| Cost | $$$$ (Highest) | $$$ (High) | $$ (Medium) | $ (Lowest per unit) |
| Best Weight/Size | < 150 kg | 150 kg – 1000 kg | 1 – 15 CBM | > 15 CBM |
| Customs Complexity | Low (Automated) | Medium (Broker needed) | High (Broker needed) | High (Broker needed) |
| Damage Risk | Low | Low | Medium (Handling) | Low (Sealed box) |
| Cost Drivers | Weight only | Chargeable Weight | Volume (CBM) | Container size |
| Ideal Products | Samples, Docs | High Value, Urgent | Small Pallets | Bulk Stock |
Cost Drivers: What Actually Makes One Mode Cheaper
Why is sea freight cheap and air freight expensive? It comes down to how they calculate space.
1. Air Freight: Chargeable Weight
Planes have limited space. You pay for actual weight OR volumetric weight, whichever is higher.
- Formula: Length x Width x Height (cm) / 6000.
- Trap: Shipping fluffy pillows by air? You will pay for “volume weight” (space), not their light actual weight.
2. Sea Freight: Volume (CBM)
Ships have plenty of weight capacity but limited space.
- LCL: You pay per Cubic Meter (CBM).
- FCL: You pay a flat rate per container (20ft/40ft), regardless of weight (up to a limit).
3. Surcharges & Accessorials
- Fuel Surcharge: Applies to all modes, fluctuates monthly.
- Peak Season Surcharge (PSS): Hits hard in Q4 (Christmas rush).
- Trucking (Last Mile): Often costs more than the sea freight itself for short inland trips.
Transit Time: What You Can Control vs What You Can’t
“Transit time” in a quote usually means port-to-port. But you care about door-to-door.
The Reality of “Speed”
- Air Freight: Flight is 14 hours. But customs + trucking + warehouse handling = 5–7 days total.
- Sea Freight: Crossing the ocean takes 14–30 days. But port congestion + customs exams + chassis shortages can add 7–14 days.
How to Mitigate Delays
- Buffer: Always add 10 days to the forwarder’s estimate.
- Route: Shipping to the US East Coast? Going via the Panama Canal is slower than shipping to the West Coast and trucking/railing it across (Landbridge), but cheaper.
- Docs: Ensure your HS Code and Commercial Invoice are perfect. One typo can hold cargo at customs for weeks.
3 Real-World Scenarios
Scenario A: The “Urgent Restock”
- Cargo: 20 cartons of phone cases (300 kg total).
- Situation: Amazon stock runs out in 10 days.
- Winner: Air Freight.
- Why: Express is too expensive (~$2,500). Air Freight might be ~$1,500 and arrive in 7 days. Sea freight takes too long (30+ days), costing you lost sales.
Scenario B: The “New Product Launch”
- Cargo: 5 pallets of yoga mats (3 CBM, 1000 kg).
- Situation: Not urgent. Launch is in 2 months.
- Winner: LCL Sea Freight.
- Why: Yoga mats are heavy but low value. Air freight would cost more than the product value. LCL might cost ~$400–$800 total.
Scenario C: The “Bulk Order”
- Cargo: 20 pallets of furniture (25 CBM).
- Situation: Standard inventory replenishment.
- Winner: FCL Sea Freight (20ft Container).
- Why: 25 CBM fills most of a 20ft container. LCL fees for 25 CBM would be astronomical. FCL gives you a sealed box, lower risk of damage, and the best price per unit.
What to Send a Forwarder to Get an Accurate Quote
Don’t just say “How much to ship to USA?”. Copy/paste this checklist to get a real price.
- Origin: (City/Port in China)
- Destination: (Zip Code, Country)
- Incoterms: (FOB or EXW? – Tip: Buy FOB to save money)
- Commodity: (What is it? HS Code?)
- Weights/Dims: (Total KG, Total CBM, number of cartons)
- Ready Date: (When can they pick it up?)
- Special Services: (Do you need DDP? Customs clearance? Insurance?)
Common Misconceptions (and What’s Actually True)
- “Sea is always cheapest.”
- Truth: Not for small shipments! For < 100 kg, sea freight minimum fees (docs, handling, customs) can make it more expensive than Express.
- “Air is always fastest.”
- Truth: Express is faster. Air freight can get stuck in customs or waiting for a flight consolidation, taking 10+ days.
- “DDP is a shipping method.”
- Truth: DDP is an Incoterm (a legal agreement on who pays). You can have “Air DDP” or “Sea DDP”. It just means the forwarder pays the taxes and delivery.
- “Door-to-door is simpler.”
- Truth: Yes, but verify if the truck has a liftgate. If you deliver to a house or Amazon FBA without a dock, a standard truck can’t unload.
FAQ
Is sea or air freight better from China?
It depends on volume. Sea freight is better for bulk (> 1 CBM) due to cost. Air freight is better for urgent, high-value, or light goods (< 500 kg).
Is it better to ship by air or sea?
Financially? Sea. Operationally? Air is simpler and faster but 5–8x the cost per kg.
Is air or sea shipping faster?
Air shipping is significantly faster (5–10 days) compared to sea shipping (25–45 days).
What is the best shipping method from China to USA?
For most importers: Sea Freight (FCL) offers the best balance of cost and security. For new e-commerce sellers: Express or Air DDP minimizes complexity.
Conclusion
Choosing between air freight, sea freight, and express isn’t a gamble; it’s a math problem.
- Use Express for samples and tiny shipments (< 150 kg).
- Use Air Freight when you are desperate for stock (150–500 kg).
- Use Sea Freight for everything else to maximize profit margins.
Next Step: Before you order, ask your supplier for the packing list (weights and dimensions). Send that to 3 forwarders and compare the quotes using the checklist above.